Searching for a last-minute gift? These 9 headphones are some of our top rated

You can't go wrong with this

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are the best choice in our ultimate ranking of the best headphones for good reason. They're not cheap, but they offer excellent noise cancellation and surprising sound quality in a lightweight, comfortable design. We can't imagine anyone who wouldn't be thrilled to find these over-ears under the Christmas tree.

Less mainstream crowd pleaser, but audiophiles would also love the incredibly impressive Focal Bathys.

Seriously stunning sound

The Edifier Stax Spirit S3 are impressive over-ear headphones, with a light, comfortable and foldable design, detailed and captivating sound and epic battery life. The only disadvantage? There's no noise cancellation here, meaning they're not the best for commuting or for those who need ultimate focus. Otherwise they are almost perfect headphones.

The Sennheiser HD-660S2 are a solid alternative option if you're buying for someone who loves an open-back design.

Solid specs for this price

The Final Audio UX3000 headphones may look simple, but they deliver confident and articulate sound and come with a host of solid specs, including aptX Low Latency Bluetooth, long 35-hour battery life and active noise cancellation. All that in a comfortable design and at a price that seems too good to be true compared to many of their rivals.

The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 also have the impressive, high-quality specifications, but are available at a surprisingly low price.

A huge battery life of 60 hours

If you really want to impress your loved ones, come along with a Sennheiser-branded gift. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are fantastic over-ear headphones. They offer excellent ANC, a range of impressive features, plus impressive sound and call quality. They're also light and comfortable – and the 60-hour battery life is the icing on the cake.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones are an excellent over-ear option if you have no choice.

Beautiful design, class-leading sound

We were impressed with the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 headphones when we tested them, thanks to their class-leading sound, comfort level and beautiful design. If you're looking for a luxury gift this holiday season, they have the most stylish construction and finish we've seen in a long time and would make anyone swoon.

If you're looking for another pair of over-ears with a striking design, try the Sivga Oriole.

Truly excellent ANC

All headphones in this category offer the best active noise cancellation in their class, but Bose always beats the competition when it comes to ultimate immersion. That's why our top ANC pick overall is the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, giving you great noise blocking and solid audio in a design so stunning it could be a work of art.

Please take into account the Apple AirPods Max if you want excellent ANC for someone with an iPhone.

Excellent value

If you're on a budget but want to gift headphones that tick all the boxes, you need the Sony WH-CH520. They are excellent value for money, with a clear and well-rounded sound and plenty of customization options. They feel robust and also have comfortable filling. Don't expect high-end features like ANC at this price, but they do the basics incredibly well.

For an affordable offering with ANC, try the Sony WH-CH720N.

Cheap and reliable

The JBL Tune 770NC aren't the most exciting headphones out there and wouldn't stand a chance next to the stunning ANC options above, but they're also a fraction of the price. These JBL over-ears are a reliable offering that fit well and are easy to store. During our testing we were also surprised by how good the ANC, sound and battery life are here, ideal for all day listening.

The JBL Tune 670NC were around before this one, which means they're probably even cheaper today.

Incredibly affordable sound

Audio brand Jabra is a master at creating top-spec headphones that often undercut the higher-end competition, and the Jabra Elite 45h is no exception. They promise heavy and balanced sound and impressive battery life at a fraction of the cost of rivals. The design is also comfortable, folds easily and looks more stylish than it should at this price.

You also get good ANC and sound for under $100/£100 with the Anchor Soundcore Space One.